2.2 Status of active projects

2.2.1 TR 11017: Framework for internationalization

e N277 accepted as PDTR. The DTR text, SC22/WG20 N366, will
be submitted for JTC1 ballot after the disposition of ballot comments.

2.2.2 Second edition of TR 10176

a Guidelines for the preparation of programming languages standards

b JTC1 22.13

c An amendment to a type 3 Technical Report

d A. Kido and M. Noda

e Working draft #4 (SC22/WG20 N333) was discussed in Paris May
1995, supported by a questionnaire, for which more answers are
expected. The resulting document (SC22/WG20 N377) is submitted
to the SC22 plenary in Annapolis for PDTR registration

2.2.3 International string ordering (future ISO/IEC 14651)

a International string ordering

b JTC1 22.30.02.02

c International Standard ISO/IEC 14651

d Alain LaBonté

e Working draft (SC22/WG20 N344) has been discussed at WG20
meeting in Paris and extensively on the iso10646 electronic distribution
list. A request for sorting tables has been sent to SC22 members
in July 1995. WG20 plans to submit SC22/WG20 N388 for a combined
CD registration and consideration ballot in October 1995.

e WG20 N380 is current document, based on WG20 N116 and additional
input.

2.3 Candidate projects

2.3.1 Functionality of Internationalization

a Functionality of the internationalization of applications

b JTC1 22.30.02.01

c A number of standards, see subproject descriptions below

d Keld Simonsen

e This is an umbrella project

This project is the umbrella project for the development of specific
standards for functionality of the internationalization of applications,
such that users can specify their cultural requirements, and obtain
consistent behavior across system platforms and applications.
Work is being done on the following projects:

- International string ordering (future ISO/IEC 14651)

- Cultural convention specification standard (future ISO/IEC
14652)

WG20 has submitted a request for subdivision of this project to
include an Internationalization API standard.

WG20 might consider producing additional standards to help SC22
member bodies and SC22 WGs accommodate user needs for internationalization
support in applications, for example:

- a registration standard for cultural convention-sets

- a standard for the classification of IS 10646 repertoire characters

2.3.2 Internationalization API

a Internationalization API

b A proposed subdivision of JTC1.22.30.02.01

c An International Standard

d Keld Simonsen (nominated)

e No input papers yet, but the required services are described
in the PDTR 11017.

A Language Independent API standard on internationalization services.
The services defined will include:

date format service

time format service

day numbering service

week numbering service

numeric formatting service

currency formatting service

measuring system service

compare, sort and search services

paper format service

cultural convention-set invocation service

character set handling service

character set identification service

data class definition service

case mapping service

data presentation service

data announcement service

data communication service

data input service

character set invocation service

multilingual support service

message service

language selection service

2.3.3 Cultural convention-set registry

a Cultural convention-set registry

b A proposal for a new project exists

c An International Standard for registry procedure and an International
Registry

d Keld Simonsen and the Danish UNIX User Group are nominated
as the project editor and registration authority

e The NP (SC22 N1513) has been balloted and received less than
enthusiastic acceptance - 3 yes, 2 yes with comments, 3 no, 2
abstain, 12 not voting. This shows very little support from the
member bodies and the proposal needs further definition. WG20
decided that, for the time being, this proposed NP should not
be pursued until some of the current projects are completed and
more resources are available to tackle the registry again with
a more specific proposal.

2.3.4 Classification of the characters of the IS 10646 repertoire

a Classification of the characters of the IS 10646 repertoire

b A proposal for a subdivision of JTC1.22.30.02.01 will be needed

c An International Standard

d Keld Simonsen (nominated)

e Work is being done in SC2/WG2 upon request from SC22/WG20.

3 Conclusions and requests

3.1 Issues

3.1.1 Resources for standards development

The biggest issue in SC22/WG20 - as in most other standards developing
organizations - is that many companies can not afford to make
enough resources available for speedy development of standards.
For many participants in our meetings, the meeting time is the
only time they can spend on the projects. Additionally, travel
budgets are tight, thus restricting the participation even further.

We know that we are not the only working group confronted with
this problem. Let us hope for better times soon.

3.2 Requests to the SC22 plenary

3.2.1 Register SC22/WG20 N377 as PDTR 10176 at this meeting

3.2.2 Approve the change of titles :

ISO/IEC 11017: Framework for internationalization

ISO/IEC 14651: International string ordering

3.2.3 Encourage the SC22 national bodies to provide the requested
tables for the future international string ordering standard IS
14651

3.2.4 Encourage SC2 and SC2/WG2 to address the old problem
of unique short identifiers for ISO/IEC 10646 characters in the
form of U[yxxx]xxxx.